Apparatus for coking coal.



1,080,142, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

8 BHEETB-BHEET 1.

' H. L. DOHERTY;

APPARATUS FOR COKING GOAL. APPLIUATION FILED JUNE 22, 1909. RENEWED MAY 10,1913.

Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. L. DOHERTY. APPARATUS FOR 00mm GOAL. I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1909. RENEWED MAY 10, 1913.

1,080, 1 42, Patented Dec. 2, 1913.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C.

r a i t HENRY L. DOI-IERTY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR COKING COAL.

Application filed June 22, 1909, Serial No. 503,732. Renewed May 10, 1913.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2,1913.

Serial No. 786,899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnnnr L. Dor-rnnrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Coking Goal, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for coking coal and, in particular, to such apparatus wherein the heat for the coking of the coal is derived from the combustion of gas formed during the treatment of a previous portion of the coal.

The objects of my invention are the furnishing of a coking apparatus which will make possible the continuous coking of fine or slack coal with the expenditure in the coking operation of a minimum proportion of the tot-a1 heat of the original coal, and of such construction that the manual labor of operation is reduced to a minimum and which will permit of a ready adjustment of the operating conditions in such a way that coke of any desired quality may be obtained, from the grade that is known commercially as coalite up to the hard dense coke known commercially as seventy-two hour coke.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical diametrical section through the oven on a plane through the line A B, Fig. 6, showing the arrangement for discharging the finished coke, the water spray, gas offtake, etc., and the method of supporting the carbonizing retort. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the recuperator on the line B C of Fig. 6. Fig. 3 is a part cross-section through the retort showing the detailed construction of the same. Fig. 4c is a crosssection of the retort showing the way in "which the sections of the same are put together. Fig. 5, is a part vertical section through the carbonizing retort and the outer wall of the oven, on a plane through the axisof the gas burner. Fig. 6 is a top View of the whole apparatus, showing also (in connection with Fig. 2) the arrangement of the fiues in the recuperator, the blower, water pumps, etc.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the cokeo-ven, proper; 2 the recuperator; 3 the blower for supplying the air to the gas burner under pressure; 4 the charging hopper of the oven; 5 the coking retort; 6 the gas burner for the retort.

7 indicates the hopper bottom of the oven; 8 the annular space surrounding the retort; 9 the gas .off-take pipe conducting the surplus gas to the recuperator 2.

10 indicates the stepped-grate of the oven; 11 the discharging chute of the same; 12 the gate closing 11, the said gate having a rack 13, gearing with the pinion 1 1, which latter is operated by the hand-wheel 15.

16 is the shell of the oven; 17 the fire brick lining of the same.

18 is the firebrick lining of the off-take pipe 9; 19 and 20 indicate I-beams support ed by the wall of the oven, proper. Straps, 23, suspended from 19 and 20, support the heavy circular channel 30, which, in turn, supports the tie-rods 28 of the carbonizing retort Poke-holes, 21 and 22, furnish a means of access to the interior of the main chamber of the coke-oven and to the quenching chamber, respectively.

The preferred form of retort which I use with my invention is the one shown. This is constructed of sectional blocks, 24, of fireclay 01' other suitable refractory material, the opposite extremities of each block having one a male part, 25, and the other a corresponding female part, 26. Through the center of each block is a hole, 27, the said hole being in an exactly similar position in each block so that when the several blocks are superimposed in the same relative position the holes of the several blocks will exactly register, thus forming a continuous opening through the group from top to bottom. Hollow tie-rods, 28, pass through these openings, the said rods being threaded at each end. Heavy caps, 29, are screwed on the lower ends after the retort has been built up on the tie-rods 28, thus forming steps which prevent the sections of the re.- tort from stripping off the tie-rods when the retort is in an upright position. A thin grouting of fireclay, or, if preferred, a small quantity of water-glass is applied to the flat faces and ends of the blocks 24, so that when the retort has been assembled the joints between the blocks are fairly close and gas tight. The sections, 32, of the top tier of the retort 5, are made much broader than the other sections, so that when in position the opening in their center is only of a sufficient diameter to permit of the charging of the coal. A metal plate, 33, covers the top of the retort. When the retort has been properly assembled, a heavy circular channel-iron or trough-shapod ring 30, preferably of steel, of a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the retort and having its bottom punched with holes, 31, registering with the holes 27 of the assembled retort, is then lowered over the tie-rods 28, and the tie-rods fastened watertight to the said trough by means of the flanges 67, which are bolted to the bottom of the trough, a suitable packing being interposed to make the joint watertight. The retort is now placed in position within the retort oven and supported in such position until the I-beams l9 and 20 have been put in place. The channel 30, from which the retort is hung, is now fastened to the I-beams 19 and 20 by the straps or hangers 23. The top 32 of the retort is supported around the central openingby hollow water-cooled tie-rods, 34. These are closed at the bottom by heavy caps, 36, which also afford a bearing surface for 32. The tie-rods 34 are set into an annular gutter, 85. Short pipes, 37, connected to the water supply pipe 88, pass nearly to the bottom of 34. An overflow, 89, connects 34 with the outer circular channel or gutter 30. An overflow, 43, conducts the waste water from 30 through 44 to a tank, 40. The tie-rods, 28, of the retort, have pipes, 41, which pass nearly to the bottom of 28, and are connected at the top to the water supply pipe 42. The cooling water is introduced at the bottoms of 28, rises therethrough into the annular gutter 30, and thence flows away through 43.

The charging hopper 4 is preferably of a continuous automatic feed type with the lower part well water cooled to prevent burning out. I do not limit myself to any particular design of charging hopper, any pattern which will furnish a uniform feed answering the requirements of my process.

The recuperator 2, has a metal sheel, 45, with a suitable non-conducting lining, 46. In the recuperator shown are a group of vertical fiues, 50, which are connected to horizontal headers, 49, at the bottom of the recuperator and to similar headers, 51, at the top of the recuperator. A cross-connec tion, 48, connects the lower headers 49 and a similar cross-connection, 52, the upper headers 51. A pipe, 47, leads from the blower 3 to the lower cross-connection 48 and another pipe, 58, from 52 to the burner 6.

The burner 6 is in reality an injector, having an air nozzle, 54, connected to the pipe 53 and having the controlling valve, 61, a converging-nozzle-shaped passage 57 connected w1th a diverging-11ozzle-shaped pas sage 55. Opening into 57 through the passage 58 is the gas by-pass 59 connected with the annular chamber 8 of the cokeoven. The by-pass 59 is provided with a damper, 62. The burner 6 has heavy walls of highly refractory material and the passage 59 is also, preferably, lined with fireclay or some other similar material. The burner 6 passes through the outer wall of the coke-oven and through the wall of the retort 5, the passage 55 opening into the upper part of the retort 60, which I have called the combustion chamber. The opening in the wall of the coke-oven through which 6 is inserted is, preferably, made of a much larger size than the cross-section of 6. A packing of asbestos, 63, is then made around 6, thus forming a more or less flexible joint between 6 and the wall of the cokeoven. A similar joint may, if desired, be made between 6 and the retort; but, I consider that the joint 63 furnishes sufficient flexibility to the connections of 6 with the retort and oven wall to allow for the relative movement of the same dueto variations in temperature from time to time.

A quenching chamber, 68, occupies the bottom of the coke-oven, in which is located the stepped-grate 10. 10. receives the coke coming from the hopper 7 and, when the gate 12 is raised, discharges it into the chute 11. In the chamber 68 are placed one or more spray nozzles, 65, connected to a water pipe, 69, through which water is supplied to 65 under pressure. In the design of apparatus figured, the water is supplied under pressure by the pump 64; but, it is manifest that 69 may be connected with a main or tank, as long as the pressure so obtained is suificient to properly operate the spray. The spray nozzle is preferably of the type revealed in my Letters Patent No. 901,557, dated Oct. 20, 1908, and is herein claimed only in combination. Any spraying device which will fulfil the same function will answer the purpose of this invention. With the form of nozzle shown, the water is discharged in fine intersecting streams or jets which by their mutual im pingement produce a very fine spray or fog.

The method of operating my coking apparatus is as follows :Coke or, preferably, screened cinder, is charged into the retort until the hopper 7 is well filled with it. A layer of suitable kindling is charged upon the bed of cinder, the door 70, and the manhole 72 in the top of the recuperator opened and the kindling ignited. Coke is now gradually charged onto the ignited bed of kindlings until a rather thick bed of ignited coke has been built up and a column of coke occupies the lower two-thirds of the retort 5. When this has been done the gas arising from the fuel bed will have changed in character from a flue gas to a poor producer gas. The blower 3 is started, a torch or red hot metal bar. inserted through the peep-hole 73 of the burner 6, and the valve 61 partly opened. Air now discharges through 54 inducing a current of the producer gas occupying the chamber 8 through 59 and 58 into the induction chamber 57 of the burner,

where it is ignited. The valve 61 is now opened wider until the velocity of the air current is sufficient to push the flame forward, so to speak, into the combustion chamber 60 of the retort 5. When the coke in apparatus 4. By this means a layer of raw coal is maintained on the top of the bed of coke in the retort, which is subjected to the direct heat of the gas flame. The high temperature of the flame quickly cokes the coal. Even fine slack quickly forms aggregates.

Instead, however, of the fine coal forming a dense bed impenetrable to the heating,

gases, as would be the case if the slack were charged intermittently into an ordinary form of oven, the rapidity of the coking insures that only a comparatively thin bed of raw coal exists at any time in the retort. The successive swelling and contracting of the lumps as the coking proceeds causes the formation of fissues in the coking layer which keeps it fairly open, permitting of the ready passage of the gases through it. The

gases from the flame passing down through the column of coke in the coking retort forming producer gas, at the same time eX- erting a partial quenching effect upon the coke. The heavy vapors likewise react with the coke to form permanent gases. water vapor formed from the quenching of the coke rises through the partially quenched coke in the hopper and is in part dissociated with the formation of hydrogen,

carbon dioxid, and carbon monoxid. The excess of the mixed gases so formed not required for the combustion in the retort pass to the recuperator, giving up the major portion of their sensible heat to the air current passing through the air flues of the same, and thence pass through the pipe 71 to a holder or furnace when they are burned directly.

By varying the rate at which the gas is burned in the coking retort. or chamber, and the rate at which the finished coke is withdrawn at the bottom and the raw coal charged at the top of the oven, I am able to produce a product of any desired quality from that corresponding to the product known as coalite to a hard, dense, coke.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

1. In an apparatus for coking coal, the.

The

combination of a coking chamber, a gas burner in said chamber, said burner being located above the level of the fuel in said chamber, an annular gas chamber enveloping said coking chamber, means for supplying air under pressure to said burner and for supplying combustible gas to said burner, means for charging coal into said chamber and for withdrawing coke from said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of a coking chamber for the reception of the coal, an annular gas chamber surrounding said coking chamber and a gas burner for burning gas in said chamber in direct contact with the coal therein, said gas burner being located above the level of the charge in said coking chamber, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of a coking chamber, an .annular gas chamber surrounding said coking chamber, means for feeding coal to said coking chamber, a passage conducting combustible gas to said coking chamber above the fuel in said chamber and a passage conducting air to said coking chamber above the fuel in said chamber, whereby the freshly charged coal in said chamber may be subjected to the direct heating action of a flame of burning gas, said flame being developed in the clear space above the fuel in said coking chamber, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of a closed chamber, having a hopper interposed in its lower part, and a stepped grate located beneath the aperture of said hopper; an inner coking chamber enveloped by said closed chamber; means for feeding coal to said coking chamber; a passage conducting combustible gas to said coking chamber, and a passage conducting air to said chamber, whereby the coal in said chamber may be subjected to the direct heating action of a flame of burning gas, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of closed oven chamber, having a hopper bottom; a quenching chamber located beneath said oven chamber, having a stepped grate therein, said stepped-grate being located beneath the aperture of said hopper, and a spray-nozzle in said quenching chamber; an inner coking chamber in said even chamber; a continuous automatic coalfeeding'device, for feeding coal to the coking chamber, a passage conducting combustible gas to said coking chamber, and a passage conducting air to said chamber, whereby the coal in said chamber may be subjected to the direct heating action of a flame of burning gas, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of a closed oven chamber, an inner coking chamber in said oven chamber, said coking chamber being enveloped by said oven chamber, water cooled means for feeding coal to said coking chamber, and a gas burner in said coking chamber, said burner having its gas passage connected to a gassupply-pipe and its air passage connected to an air-supply-pipe, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of a closed oven chamber having ahopper bottom; an inner coking chamber, suspended in said oven chamber so that the said coking chamber is enveloped by said oven chamber; a coal-feeding device superimposed on said coking chamber; a quenching chamber located below said oven chamber, water-spraying means in said quenching chamber, and a chute for discharging the quenched coke from said quenching chamber, substantially as described.

8. In combination with an apparatus for coking coal, a coking chamber built up of fireclay rings, said rings having holes whose axes are parallel to the axis of the rings, said holes being spaced at equal intervals on the medial circle of said rings, so that when the said rings are assembled the holes of the rings occupying the same relative position will exactly register to form a continuous passage through the cylindrical wall of said coking chamber, hollow tie-rods passing through said continuous passages in the Wall of said coking chamber, caps on the lower ends of said tie-rods, an inner water-pipe extending to near the bottom of said tie-rods, said water-pipe being connected to a water supply-pipe, a circular gutter connected with the upper ends of said tie-rods, and an overflow passage from said circular gutter, substantially as described.

9. In combination with an apparatus for coking coal, a coking chamber built up of sectional rings, the sections of said rings being segmental blocks, the opposite extremities of each block, having, one, a male part, 25, and the other a female'part, 26, a perforation extending through each block between the flat surfaces thereof, said perforation being'in an exactly similar position in each block, so that when said rings have been assembled in the coking chamber, the perforations in corresponding blocks will exactly register to form longitudinal passages in the wall of said coking chamber; hollow tie-rods passing through the said longitudinal passages, the said tie-rods having their upper extremities connected with a circular channel, the interior passage of said hollow tie-rods being in communication with the circular gutter formed by said channel, and their lower extremities closed by caps; water pipes located within said tie-rods and extending to near the bottom of the same, the upper extremities of said pipes being in communication with a water supply-pipe; a top to said coking chamber having an opening for the introduction of coal to said chamber, said top comprising segmental blocks having perforations registering with the perforations of the said sectional rings, hollow tie-rods supporting the inner extremities of said segmental blocks, the upper extremities of said tie-rods being attached to a circular channel, and the lower extremities thereof closed by caps, water-pipes in said tie-rods, extending to near the bottoms thereof, and having their upper extremities attached to a water-pipe, all, substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus for coking coal, the combination of an oven chamber; a coking chamber located in and enveloped by said oven chamber; a gas burner adapted to project a flame of burning gas into said oven chamber, said gas burner comprising an air nozzle having a regulating valve for regulating the discharge of air through said nozzle, a burner tube, said tube comprising a converging-nozzle-shaped inlet passage and a diverging-nozzle-shaped discharge passage, a passage connecting the said inlet passage of said burner tube with the said oven chamber, a damper in said connecting passage; and a pipe connected to the air nozzle of said burner through which air under pressure is supplied to said air nozzle, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus for coking coal the combination of an oven chamber; a coking chamber located in and enveloped by said oven chamber; a gas burner adapted to project a flame of burning gas into said oven chamber above the surface of the charge therein. said gas burner comprising an air nozzle having a regulating valve for regulating the discharge of air through said noz- 1 zle, a burner tube, said tube comprising a converging-nozzle-shaped inlet passage and a diverging-nozzle-shaped discharge passage, a passage connecting the said inlet passage of said burner tube with the said oven chamber, a damper in said connecting passage; a recuperator; a passage connecting the discharge ends of the air passages of said recuperator with the air nozzle of said gas burner; a passage connecting the said oven-chamber with the gas passage of said recuperator, substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus for coking coal the combination of an oven chamber, poke-holes in the walls of said chamber; a coking chamber within said oven chamber; a continuo-us automatic feed device for feeding coal to said coking chamber; a gas burner adapted to project a flame of burning gas into said oven chamber, said gas burner comprising an air nozzle, having a regulating valve for regulating the discharge of air through said nozzle, a burner tube, said tube comprising a converging-nozzle-shaped inlet passage and a diverging-nozzle-shaped discharge passage, a passage connecting the said inlet passage of said burner tube with the said oven chamber, a damper in said connecting passage; a quenching chamber located beneath said oven chamber, a stepped-grate in said quenching chamber, a chute for discharging the quenched coke from quenching chamber, a gate on said chute, means for operating said gate, pokeholes in the wall of said quenching chamber, and a plurality of spraying means in said quenching chamber, each of said spraying means comprising a spray-cap, said spray-cap having a plurality of perforations in the face thereof, said plurality of perforations being arranged in pairs, the perforations composing each pair lying in the same plane parallel to the axis of the spray-cap each perforation of a pair making an acute angle with the axis of the spray-cap, whereby the streams discharged from each pair of perforations are caused to intersect and impinge upon each other, pipes connected to each of said spray-caps supplying water under pressure thereto; a recuperator comprising an inclosed chamher, a passage connecting one extremity of said chamber With the said oven-chamber, and a discharge passage at the other extremity of said chamber, a plurality of air passages in said chamber, said plurality of air passages being connected to headers at each extremity, cross-connections connecting the headers at one extremity of the chamber and cross-connections connecting the headers at the other extremity of said chamber, a pipe connecting one of said cross-connections with a draft-producing means, and a pipe connecting the other cross-connection with the air-nozzle of the said gas burner, all substantially as described.

13. In an apparatus for coking coal the combination of an oven-chamber; a. coking chamber located within and enveloped by said oven chamber; a gas burner in said coking chamber adapted to project a flame upon the surface of the fuel in said chamber; a quenching chamber located beneath and functionally connected with said ovenchamber; and water-spraying means in said quenching chamber, said water spraying means, comprising, a water pipe, a spraycap on said water pipe said spray-cap having a plurality of perforations in the face thereof, said perforations being arranged in pairs, the perforations of each pair lying in the same plane parallel to the axis of said spray-cap and making equal acute angles with the projection of said axis on their plane, whereby the streams discharging from each pair of perforations are caused to intersect and impinge upon each other, all substantially as described.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 18th day of June 1909.

HENRY L. DOHERTY.

lVitnesses:

VVILSON G. BERRYMAN, FRED B. MULCOX.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

